Conveyor and method of manufacturing absorbent article

ABSTRACT

A conveyor conveys a continuous stretchable web. The conveyor includes a press mechanism configured to press the web in at least a center region C in a cross direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the web, or at least side edge regions S located in positions shifted from the center region toward both side edges of the web in the cross direction. The press mechanism is provided in a position shifted from a conveyance plane R of the web when viewed along a surface of the web in the cross direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a conveyor configured to convey acontinuous stretchable web, and a method of manufacturing an absorbentarticle.

BACKGROUND ART

A method of manufacturing an absorbent article such as a pants-typediaper, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner is implemented in anassembly line, in general. For instance, a continuous web including acontinuum of top sheets and a continuum of bottom surface sheets to formabsorbent articles is conveyed under tension in a web conveyancedirection by a conveyor (for example, see PTL 1). Then, componentmembers such as a gather (elastic member) and a waterproof film areplaced on the web being conveyed under tension in the web conveyancedirection.

A web with stretchable component members, such as a gather and awaterproof film, arranged thereon sometimes extends or shrinks in across direction (a web width direction) perpendicular to the webconveyance direction. In particular, in a system in which a web isconveyed in the web conveyance direction in a state where a pair ofwaistline portions to be eventually fitted to the waist of a wearer arearranged to extend in the web conveyance direction (as known as acrosswise conveyor system), the web during conveyance is oftenasymmetrical with respect to the center line that bisects the width ofthe web, and sometimes shrinks toward the center in the web widthdirection.

To address this problem, a conveyor has been disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Publication No. 2003-145485 to prevent a web fromshrinking toward the center in a width direction. The conveyer includesan endless belt configured to rotate between multiple pairs of rollers,a drive mechanism configured to rotate the belt, and a suction mechanismconfigured to suck the web down onto the belt through multiple suctionholes formed in the belt. The suction mechanism causes the web to stickto the belt through the suction holes.

The inventors have discovered that once a web shrinks toward the centerin the width direction, the web is stuck to the belt in the shrunkenstate. Consequently, the web has one or more creases therein in somecases. Such creases need to be smoothed out to avoid manufacturingdefects.

Under these circumstances, the present invention is aimed to provide aconveyor and a method of manufacturing an absorbent article which arecapable of surely smoothing out a crease generated in a stretchable webeven when the crease is generated in the web.

Citation List Patent Literature PTL 1. Japanese Patent ApplicationPublication No. 2003-145485 (pp. 2 to 4, FIGS. 1 and 2) SUMMARY

To solve the above-described problem, the present invention has thefollowing aspects.

In an aspect, a conveyor for conveying a continuous stretchable web in aconveyance direction is provided. The web has, in a cross directionperpendicular to the conveyance direction, a center region and side edgeregions on opposite sides of the center region. The conveyor comprises aconveying mechanism for conveying the web in a conveyance plane; and apress mechanism for pressing the web in at least one of the center orside edge region of the web, to deflect the web off the conveyance planeand cause the web to be stretched in the cross direction.

In another aspect, a method of manufacturing absorbent articles isprovided. The method comprises conveying, in a conveyance plane, acontinuous web to be processed by a plurality of processes into theabsorbent article. The web has, in a cross direction perpendicular to aconveyance direction, a center region and side edge regions on oppositesides of the center region. The method further comprises pressing theweb in at least one of the center or side edge region of the web, todeflect the web off the conveyance plane.

To solve the above-described problem, the present invention has thefollowing aspects. A aspect of the present invention provides a conveyorthat conveys a long stretchable web, comprising a press mechanismconfigured to press the web in at least a center region in a crossdirection perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the web, or atleast side edge regions located in positions shifted from the centerregion toward both side edges of the web in the cross direction, whereinthe press mechanism is provided in a position shifted from a conveyanceplane of the web when viewed along a surface of the web in the crossdirection.

According to the aspect of the present invention, there can be provideda conveyor and a method of manufacturing an absorbent article which arecapable of surely smoothing out a crease generated in a stretchable webeven when the crease is generated in the web.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway, perspective view showing an absorbentarticle according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a relevant part of a method ofmanufacturing absorbent articles according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a relevant part of a conveyor accordingto one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a press mechanism of the conveyor of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the press mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a press board of the press mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a press mechanism according to aModified Example 1.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are front views of a press mechanism according to aModified Example 2.

FIG. 9 is a front view of a press mechanism according to a ModifiedExample 3.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a press mechanism according to a ModifiedExample 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a conveyor and a method of manufacturing an absorbentarticle according to one or more embodiments of the present inventionwill be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Notethat, in the following description and in the drawings, the same orsimilar reference signs denote the same or similar elements andportions. In addition, it should be also noted that the drawings areschematic, and are not to scale unless otherwise specified. For thisreason, the specific dimensions should be determined in consideration ofthe following descriptions. Moreover, the drawings do not necessarilyreflect the real-life dimensional relationships and ratios ofcomponents.

Firstly, a configuration of an absorbent article 1 according to one ormore embodiments will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 which is apartially cutaway perspective view showing the absorbent article 1. Inthis particularly illustrated embodiment, the absorbent article 1 is adisposable pants-type diaper for adults.

As shown in FIG. 1, the absorbent article 1 mainly includes a top sheet2, a back sheet 3, an absorber 4 and a waterproof sheet 5.

The top sheet 2 is adapted to come into contact with the skin of aperson to wear the absorbent article 1 (hereinafter, “wearer”). The topsheet 2 is made of a liquid permeable sheet such as a nonwoven fabric ora perforated plastic film. The back sheet 3 is provided outside the topsheet 2 (on the side farther from the wearer). The back sheet 3 is madeof a nonwoven fabric or the like.

The absorber 4 is provided between the top sheet 2 and the back sheet 3,for absorbing excretion discharged from the wearer. The absorber 4 ismade of a mixture of g pulp and superabsorbent polymer particles, or thelike. The waterproof sheet 5 is provided between the back sheet 3 andthe absorber 4, for blocking the permeation of the excretion from thewearer to the outside of the absorbent article 1. The waterproof sheet 5is made of a liquid impermeable sheet.

The absorbent article 1 is provided with the top sheet 2, the absorber4, the waterproof sheet 5 and the back sheet 3 in order, from the skinside of the wearer.

The absorbent article 1 thus configured includes, in combination, afront waistline portion 10 to be fitted to the front waist of a wearer,a back waistline portion 20 to be fitted to the back waist of thewearer, and a crotch portion 30 to be fitted to the crotch of thewearer. Incidentally, leg-surrounding openings 40 into which the legs ofthe wearer are inserted are formed on both sides of the crotch portion30.

The front waistline portion 10 and the back waistline portion 20 arejoined together by joint portions 50, and thereby form a waist openingto be fit around the body of the wearer. A waist gather 6A made of astretchable rubber strand or the like is provided to an entireperipheral edge of the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistlineportion 20.

For example, to make the front waistline portion 10 and the backwaistline portion 20 stretchable in the cross direction perpendicular tothe front-to-back direction from the front waistline portion 10 towardthe back waistline portion 20, the front waistline portion 10 and theback waistline portion 20 may be provided with the waist gather 6A, ormay themselves be made of a stretchable sheet.

The crotch portion 30 is provided between the front waistline portion 10and the back waistline portion 20. Leg gathers 6B made of stretchablerubber strands or the like are provided on both sides of the crotchportion 30.

For example, to make the crotch portion 30 stretchable in theleg-encircling direction, the crotch portion 30 may be provided with theleg gathers 6B, or may itself be made of a stretchable sheet.

Secondly, a method of manufacturing absorbent articles, such as theaforementioned absorbent article 1, according to one or more embodimentswill be explained with reference to FIG. 2 which is a diagram forexplaining a relevant part of the absorbent article manufacturingmethod.

As shown in FIG. 2, the method of manufacturing absorbent articlesincludes at least a waistline forming step S1, an absorber transferringstep S2, a leg-surrounding forming step S3, a folding step S4, a joiningstep S5 and a cutting step S6.

In the waistline forming step S1, gathers (waist gathers 6A and/or leggathers 6B) are placed between a web 7A and a web 7B, and thereby a web7 prepared to form the front waistline portion 10 and the back waistlineportion 20 is formed.

Note that the web 7 (webs 7A, 7B) during conveyance is stretchable in awidth direction CD (cross direction) perpendicular to a conveyancedirection MD of the web 7. In addition, the web 7 is asymmetrical withrespect to a center line CL that bisects a width in the width directionCD of the web 7 and extends in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.

In the absorber transferring step S2, a crotch portion member 30A toform the crotch portion 30 is transferred onto the web 7, morespecifically, between the front waistline portion 10 and the backwaistline portion 20 after the waistline forming step S1. Here, thecrotch portion member 30A includes the back sheet 3 and the absorber 4.

In the leg-surrounding forming step S3, the leg-surrounding openings 40(so-called leg holes) are formed by cutting the web 7 (webs 7A, 7B)after the absorber transferring step S2. Here, the formation of theleg-surrounding openings 40 does not necessarily involve cutting onlythe web 7A and the web 7B, but may involve cutting, together with theweb 7A and the web 7B, the back sheet 3 constituting the crotch portionmember 30A.

Note that the absorber transferring step S2 and the leg-surroundingforming step S3 may be performed in the reverse order.

In the folding step S4, the web 7 is folded into two parts along afolding line extending in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7 bybringing a side edge 10A of the front waistline portion 10 toward a sideedge 20A of the back waistline portion 20, after the leg-surroundingforming step S3.

Note that, in this particularly illustrated embodiment, the folding lineis the center line CL. However, the folding line is not necessarily thecenter line CL, and may be shifted from the center line CL toward eitherof the side edge 10A and the side edge 20A.

In the joining step S5, the folded parts of the web 7 are joinedtogether in joint regions 50A through ultrasonic treatment or heattreatment after the folding step S4. The joint region 50A extends in theconveyance direction MD across an imaginary line SL that indicates ato-be-cut position and extends in the width direction CD.

In the cutting step S6, the web 7 joined in the joint regions 50A is cutalong the imaginary lines SL after the joining step S5. Thereby, theabsorbent article 1 is manufactured.

Here, the method of manufacturing absorbent articles includes conveyingsteps between the steps (S1 to S6). In each of the conveying steps, theweb 7 to be processed into the absorbent article 1 is conveyed by aconveyor 100, which will be described later. In other words, theconveying step is performed before each of the process steps (S1 to S6)in which the web 7 is processed.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the conveyor 100 used in the conveyingsteps will be described with reference to FIG. 3 which is a perspectiveview of a relevant part of the conveyor 100 according to one or moreembodiments.

Since the conveyors 100 used in the conveying steps before therespective steps (51 to S6) have the same configuration, the descriptionwill be provided by taking, as an example, the conveyor 100 that conveysthe web 7 before the waistline forming step S1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyor 100 conveys the web 7 under tension inthe conveyance direction MD of the web 7. The conveyor 100 includes atleast a press mechanism 110 and a conveyor mechanism 120. Aconfiguration of the press mechanism 110 will be described later.

The conveyor mechanism 120 is provided on the opposite side of the web 7from the press mechanism 110. The conveyor mechanism 120 is provideddownstream of the press mechanism 110 in the conveyance direction MD.The conveyor mechanism 120 includes a belt 121, a drive unit 122, asuction unit 123 and an edge press unit 124.

The belt 121 is an endless belt configured to rotate around pluralrollers (for example, a driving roller 122A and an unillustrated roller)while having the web 7 placed thereon. The belt 121 is provided withmultiple suction holes 121A through which the web 7 is sucked.

The drive unit 122 rotates the belt 121. The drive unit 122 includes twoor more rollers (unillustrated) and the driving roller 122A. The driveunit 122 includes a motor configured to rotate the driving roller 122Athrough a shaft, and the like. The suction unit 123 sucks air throughthe suction holes 121A which will be described later. In other words,the suction unit 123 causes the web 7 during conveyance to stick to thebelt 121.

The edge press unit 124 presses the side edges 10A and 20A of the web 7against the belt 121. The edge press unit 124 includes a first pressportion 124A arranged along the side edge 10A of the web 7 and a secondpress portion 124B arranged along the side edge 20A of the web 7. Thefirst press portion 124A and the second press portion 124B are coupledto each other with a pipe 125.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the press mechanism 110 according to oneor more embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6.FIG. 4 is a side view of the press mechanism 100 as seen in thedirection of arrow A in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a front view of the pressmechanism 100 as seen in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is atop plan view of a press board 111 of the press mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 3, the press mechanism 110 is provided on the oppositeside of the web 7 from the conveyor mechanism 120. The press mechanism110 is located close to the belt 121 rotating around the drive unit 122,and upstream of the conveyor mechanism 120 in the conveyance directionMD of the web 7.

The press mechanism 110 is provided in a position shifted from aconveyance plane R in which the web 7 is to be conveyed by the belt 121.More specifically, the press mechanism 110 is located below theconveyance plane R defined by belt 121.

The press mechanism 110 presses downward the web 7 in a center region Cin the width direction CD of the web 7 and/or in at least one of sideedge regions S located in positions shifted from the central region Ctoward the side edges in the width direction CD of the web 7. In otherwords, the side edge regions S are located on opposite sides of thecenter region as seen in the cross direction CD. In this particularlyillustrated embodiment, the press mechanism 110 presses downward theside edge regions S, except for the side edge 10A and the side edge 20Aof the web 7, and therefore is not in contact with any of the side edges(the side edge 10A or the side edge 20A).

More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the press mechanism 110includes a press board 111. The press board 111 is made ofpolytetrafluoroethylene or the like. The press board 111 is bent whenviewed along the surface of the web 7 in the width direction CD. Thepress board 111 is fixed through a fixed frame 112 to a support bar 113extending in the width direction CD.

The press board 111 includes a press face 111A to be in contact with theweb 7. The press face 111A is in a straight-line form when viewed alongthe surface of the web 7 in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7(i.e., viewed in a direction perpendicular to the support bar 113).

As shown in FIG. 6, the press board 111 has a width (w) in the widthdirection CD which becomes larger, more particularly, gradually larger,from an upstream side to a downstream side in the conveyance directionMD of the web 7. More precisely, a downstream side width (w1) in thepress board 111 is larger than an upstream side width (w2) in the pressboard 111. It should be noted that the downstream side width (w1) in thepress board 111 is larger than the width of the web 7, and therefore, asbest seen in FIG. 3, is located above the edges 10A, 20A of the web 7 toflatten out the edges 10A, 20A when the web 7 emerges from under thepress board 111.

The press mechanism 110 is provided in the position shifted from theconveyance plane R of the web 7 when viewed along the surface of the web7 in the width direction CD, and presses the center region C and theside edge regions S. Unlike the case where the web 7 is not pressed,such pressing deflects the web 7 off the conveyance plane R and causesthe web 7 during conveyance to be stretched toward outer sides in thewidth direction CD when passing under the press mechanism 110.Therefore, even when a crease is generated in the web 7 duringconveyance, such crease is surely smoothed out. It should be noted thatthe center region S of the web 7 is deflected further away from theconveyance plane R than the side edge regions S of the web.

In essence, any crease in the web 7 is smoothed out by the pressmechanism 110 before the web 7 reaches the conveyor mechanism 120, andthus the edge press unit 124 presses the side edges 10A and 20 A of theweb 7 which has no crease. In this way, the web 7 can be conveyed surelyin a state free from any crease.

The edge press unit 124 provided in the conveyor mechanism 120 has afirst press unit 124A, a second press unit 124B and a pipe 125. Thefirst press unit 124A and the second press unit 124B press the sideedges 10A and 20A of the web 7 toward the belt 121. The side edges 10Aand 20A of the web 7 are pressed toward the belt 121 by the edge pressunit 124. In this way, the web 7 can be surely conveyed in a state freefrom any crease in the conveyor mechanism 120 as well.

As disclosed herein, the performing of the conveying step before(immediately before, in particular) each of the process steps (S1 to S6)in which the web 7 is processed enables the process to be applied to theweb 7 having no crease. Thus, the conveying step can surely reducemanufacturing defects of the absorbent articles 1 and prevent themanufacturing line from stopping.

As disclosed herein, the press face 111A is in a straight-line form whenviewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7. With the press face111A, the web 7 is stretched to be in a planar state immediately beforeeach process (e.g., any of S1-S6). In other words, the process isapplied to the web 7 which has been tuned into and then kept in theplanar state by the press face 111A. Consequently, manufacturing defectsof the absorbent articles 1 can be reduced more surely.

As disclosed herein, the conveyor 100 includes the conveyor mechanism120 in addition to the press mechanism 110. The conveyor mechanism 120can surely prevent the web 7 after passing under the press mechanism 110from shrinking toward the center in the width direction CD. Inparticular, the edge press unit 124 presses the side edge 10A and theside edge 20A of the web 7 against the belt 121, whereby the stretchableweb 7 can be more surely prevented from shrinking toward the center inthe width direction CD. As a result, creases can be more surelyprevented from occurring in the web 7.

As disclosed herein, the width (w) of the press board 111 in the widthdirection CD is larger on the downstream side than on the upstream side.With this configuration, when the web 7 during conveyance passes underthe press mechanism 110, the web 7 in contact with the press board 111is stretched outward in the width direction CD by the press board 111.Thus, any crease generated in the web 7 can be even more surely smoothedout.

MODIFIED EXAMPLES

The press mechanism 110 according to the foregoing description may bemodified as follows. Here, the description will be provided mainly forthe differences from the foregoing description, with the same or similarreference signs denoting the same or similar elements.

Modified Example 1

Firstly, a configuration of a press mechanism 210A according to aModified Example 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 7 which is aperspective view showing the press mechanism 210A according to theModified Example 1.

In the foregoing description, the press mechanism 110 includes the pressboard 111. In contrast, in the Modified Example 1, the press mechanism210A includes a body roller 114 in a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG.7.

More specifically, the body roller 114 is attached to a shaft 115extending in the width direction CD of the web 7. Here, the body roller114 may be configured to rotate or not to rotate along with conveyanceof the web 7. In some embodiments, the body roller 114 is a passiveroller that follows the movement of the web 7. In other embodiments, thebody roller 114 is an actively driven roller that may rotate with, oragainst, the conveyance of the web 7 for varying crease smoothingeffects. The body roller 114 includes a press face 114A to be in contactwith the web 7.

Modified Example 2

Secondly, a configuration of a press mechanism 210B according to aModified Example 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8Bwhich are front views of the press mechanism 210B according to theModified Example 2.

In the foregoing description, it is described that the press mechanism110 presses downward a whole surface including the center region C andthe side edge regions S of the web 7. In contrast, in the ModifiedExample 2, the press mechanism 210B presses downward only the centerregion C of the web 7 as shown in FIG. 8A. Here, the center regions Care regions including the center portion of the width direction CD ofthe web 7. The side edge regions S are regions with which the pressmechanism 210B is not in contact.

The press mechanism 210B does not necessarily have to press downwardonly the center region C of the web 7, and, instead, may press downwardonly the side edge regions S as shown in FIG. 8B. While it is shown inFIG. 8B that the edges of web 7 (i.e., edges 10A, 20A) are not incontact with the press mechanism 210B, in some unshown embodiments, atleast one of the edges of the web 7 is in contact with the pressmechanism 210B.

The web 7 is stretchable. Therefore, when a force is applied to anarbitrary region in the width direction of the web 7, a tension can beapplied to the web 7.

Moreover, in the conveyor 100, a location of the web 7 relative to theconveyor 100 is decided based on a centerline in the width direction ofthe web 7. Accordingly, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 (b),applying a force to the edge portions (side edges 10A and 20A) of theoutside in the width direction of the web 7 prevents the edge portionsfrom shrinking in the inside of the width direction. Thus, the web 7 tobe conveyed is stabilized.

Moreover, the press mechanism 210B may be formed of only the body roller114, or may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above. Insome embodiments, the body roller 114 and the press board 111 are usedtogether in the same press mechanism 210B, e.g., by arranging the pressboard 111 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8A and, at the same time,arranging two body rollers 114 in the position illustrated in FIG. 8B.In such embodiments, the press board 111 can be upstream or downstreamof the body rollers 114. Other arrangements are within the scope of thisdisclosure.

Modified Example 3

Thirdly, a configuration of a press mechanism 210C according to aModified Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 9 which is afront view of the press mechanism 210C according to the Modified Example3.

In the foregoing description, the press face 111A is in thestraight-line form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web7. In contrast, in the Modified Example 3, the press face 114A is in acurved form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7, asshown in FIG. 9.

Bending points 111B and 111C are formed on the press face 114A in crosssectional surface seen from the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.Since the web 7 is conveyed at least two points (bending points 111B and111C) of the web 7 are supported, it is possible to prevent the web 7from traveling in a meandering manner.

Moreover, the press mechanism 210C may be formed of only the body roller114 or only the press board 111 as described above.

Modified Example 4

Fourthly, a configuration of a press mechanism 210D according to aModified Example 4 will be described with reference to FIG. 10 which isa front view of the press mechanism 210D according to the ModifiedExample 4.

In the foregoing description, the press face 111A is in thestraight-line form when viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web7. In contrast, in the Modified Example 4, the press face 114A is bentwhen viewed in the conveyance direction MD of the web 7, as shown inFIG. 10.

More specifically, the press mechanism 210D includes a center press face211 and a pair of side edge press faces 212. The center press face 211presses the center region C. The pair of the side edge press faces 212are located next to the center press face 211, more specifically, atboth sides of the center press face 211 in the width direction CD of theweb 7, and press the side edge regions S, respectively. The side edgepress faces 212 are each extends from an end 212A of the center pressface 211, obliquely away from the web 7 (upward, in short) when viewedin the conveyance direction MD of the web 7.

Moreover, the press mechanism 210D may be formed of only the body roller114 or may be formed of only the press board 111 as described above.

Further Embodiments

As described above, the details of several embodiments have beenexemplarily disclosed. It should not be understood that the descriptionand drawings constituting part of this disclosure limit the presentinvention. Based on this disclosure, those skilled in the art may comeup with various alternative embodiments, examples and operationtechniques.

For example, the following additional embodiments can be envisaged.Specifically, the absorbent article 1 has been described as includingthe front waistline portion 10, the back waistline portion 20 and thecrotch portion 30. The absorbent article 1 is not limited to thisconfiguration, but maybe formed entirely as a single portion. In thiscase, needless to say, a different method of manufacturing such anabsorbent article is employed.

Additionally, the description has been provided for the conveyor 100used in the manufacturing of a pants-type disposal diaper. However, theconveyor 100 is not limited to such use. For example, the conveyor 100may be used to manufacture another product such as an open-type disposaldiaper, a sanitary napkin and a panty liner, for example. In otherwords, the conveyor 100 maybe used for the conveyance of any web 7 thatis stretchable in the width direction CD of the web, not necessarily forthe manufacturing of the absorbent article 1. As long as the conveyor100 conveys a stretchable web 7, the conveyor 100 may be used betweensteps other than the steps described with respect to FIG. 2.

Moreover, the description has been provided for the conveyor 100 used toconvey a single web 7. However, the conveyor 100 is not limited to suchuse. For example, when a web including a continuum of the frontwaistline portions 10 and a web including a continuum of the backwaistline portions 20 are conveyed simultaneously, a single conveyor 100may be provided for each or both of the webs. In addition, multipleconveyors 100 may be provided between any two of the process steps.

Further, the press mechanism 110 has been described as the one pressingthe web 7 downward, but it is not limited to this configuration. Thepress mechanism 110 may press the web 7 upward, for example.

Additionally, the press mechanism 110 has been described as the onelocated below the belt 121, which is in contact with the web 7, whenviewed in the axial direction of the drive unit 122, but it is notlimited to this configuration. Instead, the press mechanism 110 may belocated above the belt 121, for, e.g., pressing the web 7 upward.

Furthermore, the press mechanism 110 has been described as the onepressing the side edge regions S, except for the side edge 10A and theside edge 20A, but it is not limited to this configuration. The pressmechanism 110 may press the side edge regions S including the side edge10A and the side edge 20A, apparently.

As described above, the present invention naturally includes variousembodiments which are not described herein. Accordingly, the technicalscope of the present invention should be determined only by the mattersto define the invention in the scope of claims regarded as appropriatebased on the description.

The entire contents of Japanese Patent Applications 2009-048479 (filedon Mar. 2, 2009) and 2010-042183 (filed on Feb. 26, 2010) areincorporated herein by reference.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

Therefore, since the conveyor and method of manufacturing absorbentarticle of the present invention is capable of surely smoothing out acrease generated in a stretchable web even when the crease is generatedin the web, it is useful in manufacturing technology for absorbentarticles.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

1 absorbent article

2 top sheet

3 back sheet

4 absorber

5 waterproof sheet

6 gather

6A waist gather

6B leg gather

7, 7A, 7B web

10 front waistline portion

10A side edge

20 back waistline portion

20A side edge

30 crotch portion

30A crotch portion member

40 leg-surrounding opening

50 joint portions

50A joint region

60 waist opening

100 conveyor

110 (210A to 210D) press mechanism

111 press board

111A press face

112 fixed frame

113 support bar

114 body roller

114A press face

115 shaft core

120 conveyor mechanism

121 belt

121A suction hole

122 drive unit

122A driving roller

123 suction unit

124 edge press unit

124A first press portion

124B second press portion

125 pipe

1. A conveyor for conveying a continuous stretchable web in a conveyancedirection, the web having, in a cross direction perpendicular to theconveyance direction, a center region and side edge regions on oppositesides of the center region, said conveyor comprising: a conveyingmechanism for conveying the web in a conveyance plane; and a pressmechanism for pressing the web in at least one of the center or sideedge region of the web, to deflect the web off the conveyance plane andcause the web to be stretched in the cross direction.
 2. The conveyoraccording to claim 1, wherein the press mechanism includes a press faceto be in contact with the web, and the press face is in a straight-lineform when viewed along the surface of the web in the conveyancedirection.
 3. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the pressmechanism includes a press face to be in contact with the web, and thepress face is in a curved form when viewed along the surface of the webin the conveyance direction.
 4. The conveyor according to claim 3,further comprising at least two support points for supporting the webwhile the press face is pressing the center region and the side edgeregions of the web.
 5. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein thepress mechanism includes, in the cross direction: a center press faceadapted to be in contact with the center region of the web; and sideedge press faces on opposite sides of the center press face and beingadapted to be in contact with the side edge regions, respectively, andwhen viewed in the conveyance direction, each of the side edge pressfaces extends from an end of the center press face obliquely away fromthe web.
 6. The conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the pressmechanism is provided upstream of the conveyor mechanism in theconveyance direction of the web.
 7. The conveyor according to claim 1,wherein the press mechanism includes a press face to be in contact withthe web, and the press face has a width in the cross direction which islarger on a downstream side in the conveyance direction of the web thanon an upstream side.
 8. A method of manufacturing absorbent articles,the method comprising: conveying, in a conveyance plane, a continuousweb to be processed by a plurality of processes into the absorbentarticles, the web having, in a cross direction perpendicular to aconveyance direction, a center region and side edge regions on oppositesides of the center region; and pressing the web in at least one of thecenter or side edge region of the web, to deflect the web off theconveyance plane.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein theconveying and the pressing are performed before any one of saidprocesses.
 10. The method of manufacturing an absorbent articleaccording to claim 9, wherein the web is not stretchable, and in theprocess step, a sheet stretchable in the cross direction of the web isstacked on the web.